Rotes, naturally, had no way of answering Herder's murmur. Its body had long since decayed entirely — the torso shattered beyond repair, leaving only a single core behind, resting quietly within the Temple of Lotters.
Rotes had once been a gentle soul, the king of the water element. But after Herder's initial attack, powerful spatial magic had flung it precisely onto the back of the Skyshroud Behemoth, and there, bound to Herder's will, it had been forced to soar ever higher into the sky, refusing to return to any source of water. Unable to withstand the sun's relentless exposure, and deprived of water for far too long, Rotes had died a wretched death up there — every step of it orchestrated by Herder. She had used Alice to manipulate the adventurers who would become the Four Sword Masters; she had told Rotes there existed, somewhere on the Arad continent, technology capable of building a heaven that would ward off spiritual corruption.
Herder fixed her gaze on the ruined palace below. A violent gust tore through it, and the structure shattered into fragments. Among the wreckage of the shattered buildings, she found what she had come for — the core of Rotes.
A gem the deep blue of crystal, roughly the size of a basketball. Though it no longer pulsed with life, the power sealed within it could still overpower the will of anyone who touched it carelessly.
"No need to worry about being brought back — you've been dead for who knows how long by now..."
Herder smiled faintly, channeled boundless magic through her hands, and sealed the crystalline blue core away.
By the time she returned to Ophelia, several believers there had already gained divine power of their own and were hard at work improving the land.
"I greet the Lord. Have you found what you were looking for?" Ophelia hurried to bow the moment she saw Herder arrive, her manner utterly sincere.
"Yes, I've found it. The Ancestral Nation has already begun building its altar — seven days should be more than enough time on your end as well. I'll send word through the sacred flame when it's time. The Skyshroud Behemoth is under my control now too, and it's already making its way back to the Arad continent."
"Understood, my lord."
Ophelia committed every instruction to memory, one by one. Herder turned and left, flying straight for the capital of Huttonmar.
An hour later, she arrived at the palace. No sooner had she settled in than a maid knocked at her door.
"Lord Herder, have you returned?"
"Yes. What is it?"
"The envoys of the Delos Empire are pleading to be allowed into the faith. Our queen doesn't know how best to respond..."
"Tell them: joining the faith is the only thing that will spare them death. Otherwise, in seven days, their empire ends."
Herder's tone was, understandably, cold. But that coldness was no more than the Delos Empire had earned for itself.
In the main hall, the delegation from Delos was visibly relieved once they learned they'd be permitted to join the faith after all. They had wanted to join from the start — it was their own emperor who had blocked the path. But the terms Herder demanded were brutal all the same: an altar and a temple, built within seven days. Impossibly little time.
"Our lord has already shown you more mercy than you deserve. Do you have any idea what happens to those who refuse to believe, now that the Arad world is ascending to join the God Realm?"
That single sentence was enough. The face of the Delos envoy went pale, and he left in a hurry — there was no time left to waste.
Was seven days truly so long? Perhaps. But day gave way to night regardless, and time did not wait. Queen Skadi and Queen Maya had already prepared themselves for the sacrifice. They stood as representatives of the mortal realm, exceptional women chosen to serve the gods.
"Not many goddesses this round, but it'll do for now," Herder murmured, looking over the women gathered around her with satisfaction.
Xilan's disciple Nuoyu; Yunmi, the traveler from the Ancestral Nation; and Alice, dressed once more in the robe so familiar to her, though this time without her mask.
Herder turned to address the faithful of Huttonmar, her voice ringing out. "Light the sacred flame. Let the sacrifice begin."
A boom. Nine-colored flame roared to life. In temples scattered across every corner of the land, sacred fires kindled one after another the moment the first was lit. The hour of sacrifice had arrived.
The goddesses made their way to their respective altars and knelt. Everything was ready. Herder set the core of Rotes upon the altar and lowered herself slowly to her knees.
"Great Eternal God, hear my voice..."
At that moment, it was ten in the morning on the Arad continent, the sky clear and bright. But in the next instant, the heavens filled with endless light. Those who had lived through two sacrifices already knew what that light meant: the god — or perhaps the goddess — had come.
The sky shifted from light to darkness. The membrane separating the worlds tore open, and the God Realm lay revealed beyond it.
At that same moment, within the Eternal Temple, a system notification sounded in Liu Che's ear.
"Ding... your chief priest Herder has offered a world in sacrifice to you. Owing to this world's ninety percent share of fortune, collection will succeed."
"Ding... congratulations on the successful collection of one world. Divine power has increased by ten percent. The area of your Divine Domain has increased by ten percent."
"Ding... your chief priest Herder has sacrificed to you the core of Rotes, Lord of Water, triggering a multiplier bonus. Congratulations — you have broken through to the second stage of the Law of Water."
"Ding... because your Law of Water has broken through to the second stage, all believers aligned with the water element have been upgraded by one full level."
"Ding... Rotes's azure core may be restored to its body with divine power, or reshaped into an entirely new beast. What is the host's decision?"
"No need to reshape it. Just clear its memory."
"Yes, host."
A moment later, a template for Rotes appeared before him.
[Name]: Lord of the Stars · Rotes
[Attribute]: Water, Spirit, Starry Sky (evolved — can now survive without water)
[Strength]: Four-star monster
[Description]: Rotes is an exceptionally adaptable pet with powerful mental capabilities. Its gift for reading the hearts of others has left it with an unusually gentle temperament.
Compared to Antun, Rotes's raw attributes were somewhat unremarkable — at best, marginally stronger. But its mental impact ability was genuinely terrifying. In its original state, that impact alone could transform an ordinary creature into an octopus. If shaped properly, could it become something closer to a Cthulhu-style abomination? It certainly seemed feasible.
Except, of course, that this particular creature was kind by nature.
Well. Never mind that for now.
At that very moment, Rotes — just released into the God Realm — was busy playing with the water-and-fire unicorns among the stars. What a gentle creature indeed.
Liu Che shook his head and let the thought go, turning his attention to the rewards still coming in.
"Ding... your chief priest Herder has sacrificed the goddess Maya to you, triggering a ten-thousand-fold bonus. Congratulations — you have obtained a seven-star goddess, the Night Elf Queen [Maya]."
"Ding... your chief priest Herder has sacrificed the goddess Skadi to you, triggering a ten-thousand-fold bonus. Congratulations — you have obtained a five-star goddess, [Skadi]."
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